Asbestos Exposure at Allied Chemical

Allied Chemical & Dye Corporation was created in 1920 as a partnership of five U.S. chemical companies. At the time, Germany was the center of the chemical industry, so the U.S. and its World War I allies needed a solution to their serious shortages of chemicals such as drugs and dyes.

As times changed, Allied Chemical & Dye expanded into production of ammonia, nylon 6, and refrigerants. The chemical asbestos company then ventured into the oil and gas exploration business, as well as aerospace and automotive, eventually merging and changing its name to Allied Signal. The company, which eventually acquired Honeywell and adopted its name, now operates in a variety of industries worldwide.

Workers who built, repaired, replaced, or maintained equipment and buildings at the Allied Chemical facilities were at risk of exposure to asbestos. However, when asbestos components were removed, replaced, or repaired, everyone in the vicinity was at risk of inhaling or ingesting microscopic asbestos fibers that were released into the air.

No amount of asbestos exposure is safe. Decades later, former factory workers are suffering from diagnoses of mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis diagnosis and other asbestos-related diseases.

Former workers at the following New York Allied Chemical plants should contact Belluck & Fox, LLP if they have been diagnosed with an asbestos disease:

Buffalo Plant

The Allied Chemical plant in Buffalo sat on 42 acres along the Buffalo River and Elk and Lee streets. The complex spanned 1337 S. Park Ave., 229 Elk St., and 85 Lee St.

The plant was built in 1879 by Schoellkopf Aniline and Dye Company, which became National Aniline Chemical Company in 1916 and then Allied Chemical in 1920. Workers at the plant produced more than 1,000 different types of dyes and organic chemicals.

Allied sold the facility to Buffalo Color Corporation (BCC) in 1977.

Solvay Plant

Allied Chemical’s plant in Solvay, N.Y., sat on Willis Avenue south of Onondaga Lake. Although the buildings have now been demolished, the facility was the lifeblood of Solvay for many years, providing jobs for generations of residents, as well as a significant amount of tax revenue for the area.

The Solvay Process Company opened the facility in 1881 to produce synthetic soda ash. Allied Chemical absorbed Solvay Process Company along with its sister venture, Semet-Solvay Company, during its formation in 1920.

The site was closed in the 1980s due to a sharp drop in demand for soda ash caused by the increased use of plastic and aluminum bottles, recycling of glass, and bottle return laws.

Towanda Plant

The Allied Chemical plant in Towanda was located at 3875 River Road, sitting on 160 acres along the Niagara River in Erie County. The coke manufacturing plant was originally built by the Semet-Solvay Company in 1917, before its absorption into Allied Chemical in 1920.

In addition to coke production, the facility handled light oil distillation, ammonia recovery, and extraction of benzene, toluene, and xylene.

The Allied Chemical Towanda site was divided by River Road. The main plant, on the east side, housed the coke ovens. On the west side of the property were the pump station, a conveyor system, a tank farm, and other facilities.

Allied sold the facility in 1978 to Tonawanda Coke Corporation.

We Fight for Allied Chemical Plant Workers

If you or a loved one worked at an Allied Chemical plant and are now coping with an asbestos disease, you need to talk with a skilled asbestos attorney as soon as possible.

At Belluck & Fox, LLP, our dedicated team can help you and your family demand full and fair compensation for the harm you have suffered.

We have locations at Albany, Rochester, NYC and Woodstock. You can also contact us now to schedule a free consultation. One of our firm’s partners will personally call you to talk about your case and your legal options.